Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Television (LMC-TV) celebrated its local volunteers Monday night in the organization’s 20th Awards Night. The Emelin Theatre could well have been the Kodak, as the event, complete with red carpet and comedian host Vincent Graziano, was modeled after a premier affair.

Assemblyman George Latimer (D) received top billing as the recipient of the Mary Anne Sullivan Award for Overall Acheivement in Community Television. Latimer, known up and down the Sound Shore for his dedication to community events, has appeared on LMC-TV more than 167 times through interviews, debates, budget hearings and events like poetry readings and community clean-ups. When Latimer took the stage to accept the award, he joked that he was really a clone of himself, with others holding down the fort in Albany and talking to constituents at a bus stop in New Rochelle.

“I’ve had now the advantage of 19 years to get to know the people of the Larchmont, Village of Mamaroneck and the Town of Mamaroneck,” he said. “It’s been a great honor to have that opportunity.” Latimer pointed out the great “slices of Americana” to be found in the communities – Sal’s pizza, Walter’s hot dogs, Fourth of July sack races at Flint Park. “Those are the things that link you to a community,” he said, “and LMC-TV covers every bit of it.”

Though they were there to celebrate the work of community producers and volunteers, LMC-TV got its share of kudos from the honorees. Latimer praised LMC-TV for its constant presence in the community. As a newcomer, Shari Schwartz, one of the producers of “Shari’s Art Class,” which took home Best New Series honors thanked LMC-TV’s staff. “They embraced us, they welcomed us, they encouraged us,” she said. “We worked very hard on this production. It was much harder in front of your cameras than in a classroom in East Harlem with 43 children looking at me.”

Fran Snedeker, who took home Best Series honors for “Future Choices,” said, “I feel really it should be I who is giving an award to LMC. You have nurtured and encouraged me over the last six years to bring to the Westchester audience the educational series about reproductive rights.” She wished LMC-TV another two decades of service to the community, saying, “You have brought to the TV audience a chance for the voices to be heard of women throughout the world who need their reproductive rights protected.”

Rounding out the nights honors were Lynne Smith, winner of Best Single Program for “Pet Rescue of Lachmont”; Hommocks’ student Asher Collins, winner of the Val Estabrook Award for Outstanding Work in School Video; Volunteer of the Year Andrew Rio, and the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department for Best Public Service Announcement.

LMC-TV Awards Night Winners

BEST SINGLE PROGRAM
“Pet Rescue of Larchmont”
Lynne Smith

BEST SERIES
“Future Choices”
Fran Snedeker

BEST NEW SERIES
“Shari’s Art Class”
Nancy Corbin
Shari Schwarz
Bolly Newquist
Kelly Anastos
Carmen Navarra

THE VAL ESTABROOK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING WORK IN SCHOOL VIDEO
Asher Collins

THE JOSEPH P. FRAIOLI VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Andrew Rio

THE MARY ANNE SULLIVAN AWARD FOR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMUNITY TELEVISION
George S. Latimer

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department